Angular and Linear Speed Cells in the Parahippocampal Circuits

An essential role of the hippocampal region is to integrate information to compute and update representations. How this transpires is highly debated. Many theories hinge on the integration of self-motion signals and the existence of continuous attractor networks (CAN). CAN models hypothesise that neurons coding for navigational correlates – such as position and direction – receive inputs from cells conjunctively coding for position, direction and self-motion. As yet, such conjunctive coding had not been found in the hippocampal region. Here, we report neurons coding for angular and linear velocity, distributed across the medial entorhinal cortex, the presubiculum and the parasubiculum. These self-motion neurons often conjunctively encoded position and/or direction, yet lacked a structured organisation, calling for the revision of current CAN models. These results offer insights as to how linear/angular speed – derivative in time of position/direction – may allow the updating of spatial representations, possibly uncovering a generalised algorithm to update any representation

MIRTO: a prototype for real-time ionospheric imaging over the Mediterranean area

MIRTO (Mediterranean Ionosphere with Real-time TOmography) is a collaborative project between Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica (INGV) of Rome, the University of Bath (U.K.) and the Istituto Fisica Applicata «Nello Carrara»-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IFAC-CNR) of Florence. The goal of the project is the development of a prototype for real-time imaging of the ionosphere over the Italian region with extension to the Mediterranean Sea. MIRTO uses an original imaging technique developed at the University of Bath and upgraded for real-time use in cooperation with IFAC. The prototype makes use of the data acquired by the real-time ionospheric and geodetic instrumentation operated by INGV. Such measurements drive the imaging algorithm to produce the image of electron density as well as maps and movies of the Total Electron Content (TEC) over the considered area

Electrolytic depletion interactions

We consider the interactions between two uncharged planar macroscopic surfaces immersed in an electrolyte solution which are induced by interfacial selectivity. These forces are taken into account by introducing a depletion free-energy density functional, in addition to the usual mean-field Poisson-Boltzmann functional. The minimization of the total free-energy functional yields the density profiles of the microions and the electrostatic potential. The disjoining pressure is obtained by differentiation of the total free energy with respect to the separation of the surfaces, holding the range and strength of the depletion forces constant. We find that the induced interaction between the two surfaces is always repulsive for sufficiently large separations, and becomes attractive at shorter separations. The nature of the induced interactions changes from attractive to repulsive at a distance corresponding to the range of the depletion forces.Comment: 17 pages, 4 Postscript figures, submitted to Physical Review

Speckle tracking echocardiography in dogs with patent ductus arteriosus : effect of percutaneous closure on cardiac mechanics

Background : patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is one of the most common congenital heart defects in the dog and percutaneous closure is effective in achieving ductal closure.PDA closure is associated with abrupt hemodynamic changes. Hypothesis: A marked reduction in standard parameters of systolic function as assessed by M/B mode after PDA closure was identified in previous studies. Speckle-tracking echocardiography(STE) can provide further insight into the effect of PDA closure on cardiac mechanics in dogs affected by PDA. Animals: 25 client owned dogs affected by PDA Methods: Prospective study. Complete echocardiographic evaluation was performed before and 24 hours after PDA closure, including standard (EDVIB/M, ESVIB/M, AlloD/S, Qp/Qs, SI, EF and FS) and STE (global longitudinal, radial, transversal and circumferential strain and strain rate). Results: PDA closure was associated with a statistically significant decrease in conventional echocardiographic parameters and a derease in the absolute values of radial, transversal and circumferential S and SR, while longitudinal S and SR did not change significantly. Conclusion and clinical importance: PDA closure by percutaneous approach is associated with a marked decrease of conventional echocardiographic parameters due to the changes in loading conditions, but no evidence of systolic dysfunction was identified by means of STE, as none of the S and SR values were below normal ranges. In the short term, contractility is enhanced in the long axis (as Long S/SR values were not statistically different before and after closure) and normalizes in the short axis (circumferential, radial and transversal S/SR decreased to normal reference range)

The ISIS Project: Indications for Future Near-Earth Plasma Studies through Future Galileo Satellites

The Earth’s plasmasphere variability is a consequence of the Sun’s forcing, determining our planet’s space weather. Plasmaspheric dynamics could be entirely caught only by studying together global and local proxies of the state of this extended system. The ISIS project (Inter-Satellite & In Situ plasmaspheric monitoring and modelling) aimed to design a system for the continuous monitoring of the Earth’s plasmasphere based on the future Galileo satellites. The efforts and expertise of ISC-CNR (Institute for Complex Systems of the National Research Council of Italy), INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) and TAS-I (Thales Alenia Space - Italy) were put together in this work of assessment. ISIS Team proposed new experimental facilities of the Galileo satellites, designed to realize inter-satellite and in situ measurements to monitor global and local quantities; in particular, a scalable system of Langmuir probes was suggested, while the TEC along all possible inter-satellite ray paths throughout the plasmasphere could be monitored via phase- and group-delay analysis of inter-satellite radio signals

The ISIS Project: Indications for Future Near-Earth Plasma Studies through Future Galileo Satellites

The Earth’s plasmasphere variability is a consequence of the Sun’s forcing, determining our planet’s space weather. Plasmaspheric dynamics could be entirely caught only by studying together global and local proxies of the state of this extended system. The ISIS project (Inter-Satellite & In Situ plasmaspheric monitoring and modelling) aimed to design a system for the continuous monitoring of the Earth’s plasmasphere based on the future Galileo satellites. The efforts and expertise of ISC-CNR (Institute for Complex Systems of the National Research Council of Italy), INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) and TAS-I (Thales Alenia Space - Italy) were put together in this work of assessment. ISIS Team proposed new experimental facilities of the Galileo satellites, designed to realize inter-satellite and in situ measurements to monitor global and local quantities; in particular, a scalable system of Langmuir probes was suggested, while the TEC along all possible inter-satellite ray paths throughout the plasmasphere could be monitored via phase- and group-delay analysis of inter-satellite radio signals.Published1A. Geomagnetismo e Paleomagnetismo2A. Fisica dell'alta atmosferaN/A or not JCRope

Serum creatinine and urine protein : creatinine ratio in dogs affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease

Cardiac disease is often associated with worsening renal function, in humans. The cardiorenal syndromes (CRS) were defined as disorders of the heart and kidneys whereby acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other. Five subtypes of the syndromes were identified; of these, CRS 2 indicates chronic abnormalities in cardiac function causing progressive and potentially permanent chronic kidney disease. Recent investigations support the role of central venous congestion, neurohormonal activation, anemia, oxidative stress and renal sympathetic activity as potential contributors to this complex syndrome. The main marker of kidney\u2019s disease in humans is considered the glomerular filtration rate. However, serum creatinine (sCr) and urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) are recognized as predictors of worsening renal function as well. The aim of this study was to investigate renal function in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and cardiac remodeling (ACVIM stage 65B2) by measurement of sCr and UPC. This is an observational case-control study. Twenty dogs of various breeds, aged 7-15 years, affected by MMVD with hemodynamically signi\ufb01cant mitral regurgitation and cardiac remodeling (left ventricle internal diameter in diastole normalized according to allometric scaling 65 1.7 and/or LA/Ao ratio 65 1.6) were included in the study. Twenty healthy dogs of various breeds, aged 7-15 years were included as controls. Dogs with congenital or acquired cardiac disease other than MMVD, dogs with previous history or clinical signs at presentation of systemic, inflammatory or infectious disease, malignancies, hypertension (systolic blood pressure >160mmHg) or evidence of other organ dysfunction or hyperthermia were not included in the study. On each dog physical examination, echocardiography, ECG, RX, systemic blood pressure measurement, blood and urine analysis were performed in order to obtain a classification of MMVD (ACVIM consensus statement 2009) and chronic kidney disease (IRIS classification). Both dogs with MMDV and controls resulted IRIS class 1. The study revealed no statistically significant difference in sCr and UPC between dogs with MMVD (sCr: 0.76 mg/dl, 0.41 \u2013 1.21; UPC: 0.26, 0.00 \u2013 1.03) (mean; range) and controls (sCr: 0.74 mg/dl, 0.37 \u2013 1.21; UPC: 0.21, 0.03 \u2013 0.98) (mean; range). These results suggest that hemodynamically signi\ufb01cant mitral regurgitation with cardiac remodeling and expected neurohormonal system activation do not affect proteinuria and renal function. Nevertheless further studies are needed to confirm these findings

Le cardiomiopatie secondarie nel gatto : quando l\u2019ipertrofia non dipende dal cuore

Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common acquired heart disease seen in felines. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a term used when there is no known cause, however secondary, is brought about by other conditions such as high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism etc. Cats with secondary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy tend to be older than cats affected by HCM, the cardiac alterations as excessive thickening of the left ventricular wall, papillary muscles and septum detected by echocardiographic examination and other clinical symptoms tend to have resolution after appropriated therapy of hyperthyroidism and systemic hypertension

The ISIS Project: Indications for Future Near-Earth Plasma Studies through Future Galileo Satellites

The Earth’s plasmasphere variability is a consequence of the Sun’s forcing, determining our planet’s space weather. Plasmaspheric dynamics could be entirely caught only by studying together global and local proxies of the state of this extended system. The ISIS project (Inter-Satellite & In Situ plasmaspheric monitoring and modelling) aimed to design a system for the continuous monitoring of the Earth’s plasmasphere based on the future Galileo satellites. The efforts and expertise of ISC-CNR (Institute for Complex Systems of the National Research Council of Italy), INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) and TAS-I (Thales Alenia Space - Italy) were put together in this work of assessment. ISIS Team proposed new experimental facilities of the Galileo satellites, designed to realize inter-satellite and in situ measurements to monitor global and local quantities; in particular, a scalable system of Langmuir probes was suggested, while the TEC along all possible inter-satellite ray paths throughout the plasmasphere could be monitored via phase- and group-delay analysis of inter-satellite radio signals

Survival and Prognostic Factors in Cats with Restrictice Cardiomyoathy : A Review of 103 Cases

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), which approximately accounts for 20% of referred feline (CMs), is a primary myocardial disorder characterized by diastolic dysfunction and a poor prognosis. Large studies focusing on RCM in the cat are scant. The aims of this retrospective study were to describe epidemiological characteristics and to analyze prognostic factors affecting survival in cats with RCM. The clinical archives of the Clinica Veterinaria Gran Sasso (Italy) and of the cardiology unit of DIMEVET (University of Milan, Italy) from 1997 to 2015 were reviewed for all cats diagnosed with RCM based on an echocardiographic exam. The diagnosis was based on distinctive echocardiographic phenotype of left atrial/biatrial enlargement, normal left ventricular (LV) wall thickness, and restrictive LV filling pattern with pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Inclusion criteria were any patient with a complete case record and an echocardiographic diagnosis of RCM. Cats diagnosed with another form of cardiomyopathies CMs, with congenital heart disease, with hypertension or hyperthyroidism or those with incomplete case records were excluded. Follow-up status and cause of death were determined by reviewing the medical records or by phone interviews with the owners. One hundred three cats (61 male and 42 female) were included in the study with a mean age of 10 years (SD 4.45) and a median weight of 3.8 kg (IQR 3.2-5 kg); most of the cats were domestic shorthair (67%) or Persians (18%). Almost all cats were showing clinical signs (96%). Dyspnea was the most common clinical sign, being evident in 82.5% of the cats. Dyspnea was attributable to pleural effusion (PE) in 50 cats, pulmonary edema in 22 cats and both in 13 cats. Hind limb paresis or paralysis due to aortic thromboembolism was evident in 14 cats. Follow-up information was available for 67 cats. Median survival time (MST) in cats with RCM was 133 days. A statistically significant different (p=0.004) MST was identified in cats with dyspnea (68 days) and in cats without dyspnea (731 days). Likewise a statistically significant (p=0.004) different MST was identified in cats with PE (68 days) and in cats without PE (186 days). MST of cats with dyspnea/PE is in this study significantly shorter than MST in cats without dyspnea/PE. The present results confirmed that cats with RCM had short survival time (MST 133 days), but worse prognosis should be prospected to the owner in cats with dyspnea or PE. Better prognosis may be prospected only in cats without dyspnea